TMobile $30 5GB plan DOES NOT WORK on Nexus 7 GSM!

CLShortFuse said:

Got my SIM card yesterday from T-Mobile.com
Got my Nexus 7 GSM today.

Cut up my full sized sim to fix into micro sim slot. Worked fine.
Inserted SIM into tablet. Got signal. So far so good.

Nexus 7 doesn't have Phone.apk or MMS.apk on launcher.
Fired up Wi-Fi, went to go Play Store.
Installed Go SMS Pro.

Set up my sim card online. Activated with $30 100 minutes, UL txt, 5GB plan.

Had to retry "nearest city" options and zip codes, but eventually got it to work.

Got my SMS notification on my tablet saying account is good.

Refilled for a month.

Got my SMS notification of the refill.

Setup a T-Mobile account with my prepaid number. All good.

0KB used.

Reboot tablet. I get "Sign into network" which is a html redirect page.

Every page redirects to sign in page. Can never sign in.

Research online.

Turns out it's detected as a tablet. IMEIs are apparently flagged by T-Mobile.

BAH!

I'll root and mess around my /efs/nv_data.bin and reboot back, but so far :-/

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That really sucks.

While I'm probably going to go with the $15 AT&T plan, the $30 TMO plan you referenced sounds like a perfect one for people who want a lot of data, SMS capabilities and some minutes for light talk usage. I was hoping it would work. Have you tried talking to T-Mobile about it?

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully there is a solution.

CLShortFuse said:

I have the $15 AT&T plan (actually $10 unlimited) that I'm using for my Galaxy Note 10.1. I would try swapping around but the sim sizes are different. I'm pretty sure that TMobile will say that the Nexus 7 is a data-only device and won't let me do it.

Google has stripped WiFi tethering, MMS and Phone from the device and I'm sure it's no coincidence.

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"Stripped" might be too strong a word.

The non-3G versions never had any of those functions. I think it's more likely that they simply chose not (or forgot) to include them in the 3G version.

SMS actually does work, but inbound only (according to rumors) by default. But you can apparently use an SMS app to do outbound fine. There is another thread discussing the phone mod. Apparently a framework change can enable it, but no one has been able to test whether it works or not yet to place calls.

I imagine it would be trivial for a developer to add tethering support, though I don't see the need personally. Most people only care about tethering a non-3G tablet to a phone, not the other way around.

What $10 AT&T plan? Is that the "share your data" plan or an independent pre-paid one?

I don't need a lot of data, but I want to be able to have some if necessary. I also don't want to pay too much for it. $15 seems reasonable, but $10 is better - assuming I don't already need to have a phone with them.

Did you register your sim to N7 IMEI or normal phone IMEI? Wonder if that makes a difference.

Did you ensure the APN was what phones use for data rather than tablets/modems? Tweakker on the market will set it for you if you are unsure.

CLShortFuse said:

I checked them all manually. They were a little different than standard APNs (had a masked password and server field), but I modified them. I was still redirected. I'm pretty sure it's IMEI detection. I'll try it anyway. Edit: Tweaker is not supported on Play Store. I'll have to search for the APK

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wow operators starting to b a-holes eh?

Look for Tweakker with two k's

When I try to install Tweakker from the store, Google Play reports that it is not compatible with my N7. (I did upgrade it to 4.2.)

I'm confused. You put your SIM card into the device after cutting it down and once you booted it up, you had signal? You saw the H and everything? But you could not access tmo's data network immediately? But then you logged into the play store with wifi?

adamhlj said:

I'm confused. You put your SIM card into the device after cutting it down and once you booted it up, you had signal? You saw the H and everything? But you could not access tmo's data network immediately? But then you logged into the play store with wifi?

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That's correct. I've already been shuttling a cut-down T-Mobile SIM between devices. When I have the SIM in the Nexus 7, I get a 3G or an H, but then when I try to make any web requests, I get redirected to My T-Mobile. (In addition, Android prompts me with a "Sign into network" item in the notification area.) I can log back into My T-Mobile with any browser, but that doesn't accomplish anything.

I then connect to the Play Store over WiFi but it won't let me download Tweakker.

smerrill said:

That's correct. I've already been shuttling a cut-down T-Mobile SIM between devices. When I have the SIM in the Nexus 7, I get a 3G or an H, but then when I try to make any web requests, I get redirected to My T-Mobile. (In addition, Android prompts me with a "Sign into network" item in the notification area.) I can log back into My T-Mobile with any browser, but that doesn't accomplish anything.

I then connect to the Play Store over WiFi but it won't let me download Tweakker.

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Had you activated that sim card before on another phone? I am curious if you can activate it first one a phone, say a One S because it uses the micro sim, maybe thats all it needs? Hmm...

adamhlj said:

Had you activated that sim card before on another phone? I am curious if you can activate it first one a phone, say a One S because it uses the micro sim, maybe thats all it needs? Hmm...

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Yes. I've been using the SIM with an adapter in a Galaxy Nexus and an unlocked iPhone 4S just fine, and I have it happily getting data in my Galaxy Nexus as we speak.

smerrill said:

Yes. I've been using the SIM with an adapter in a Galaxy Nexus and an unlocked iPhone 4S just fine, and I have it happily getting data in my Galaxy Nexus as we speak.

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Thanks guys for letting us know that Tmobile has blocked this. I kind of expect this since they have been cracking down...on the switching SIMS between different devices types.
Specially with them in touch with google on Nexus 4 and also were preparing to partner with Google to sell the Nexus 7 3G with a Tmobile SIM (like Google is doing with ATT) according to some leaked Tmo news pictures..., We should have expected this already.

It was a few months back they blocked the opposite: using data broadband plans SIM in unlocked phones like Nexus. We used to be able to do that.
Still it's unfortunate. Thanks for saving me to try the same and be stucked with a SIM i can not use effectively. To the OP; you can still use the micro SIM in a regular device without an adapter. You just need to position it right and may be try a couple times. I did not this until I saw somebody do it. Since then if I have cut a sim, I can still use it without an adapter. Just make sure you position it right....by try and error...or by inserting a regular SIM and picking up where the metal needs to touch the phone.

For all if you really want Tmobile...you can use the Special Walmart plan...which gives 60 days if you buy the $35 or $50 plans. To a point it may be equal or better deal than the 5gig $30.....depends if you do not use too much data...you can use: $35 for 3.5 gig for 60 days....or $50 5 gig for 60 days.

That's the way I may go or I may go the way of Ultra Mobile MVNO which is coming up with pay as you go @ 4.9 cents per mb in January. This is expensive but it's 4g hspa+ pay as you go to use only while needing fast data in areas where no wifi is there or my freedom hotspot has reach is fast 500 mb limit or no Clear coverage is being picked up.

We should also try to see if Tmobile is doing the same blocking while using MVNO....plans. If that's the case then the above Ultra plan won't help. In order to get better data deals we would need Voice/data plans from mvno..But that in itself is not useful unless we're able to enable both voice...and data on 3g nexus. Ultra has plans with data or voice only while data costing 2 cents per mb. Or Straightalk/Net10 $45 plans if only the voice can also be enabled.

MVNO do not usually have good deals on data only plans.

On the other side ATT broadband plans are interesting for 3gb for $30. Not quite 5 gig but better coverage.

nashi20002003 said:

For all if you really want Tmobile...you can use the Special Walmart plan...which gives 60 days if you buy the $35 or $50 plans. To a point it may be equal or better deal than the 5gig $30.....depends if you do no use too much data...on your use: $35 for 3.5 gig for 60 days....or 5 gig for 60 days.

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Can you share some more info on this plan?

I just signed up for the AT&T $15 30day/250MB plan. But this sounds a lot better!

I'm generally around Wi-Fi, so don't need a ton of data. But I'd rather pay (effectively) $15/month for 2-2.5GB then 250MB.

phonic said:

Can you share some more info on this plan?

I just signed up for the AT&T $15 30day/250MB plan. But this sounds a lot better!

I'm generally around Wi-Fi, so don't need a ton of data. But I'd rather pay (effectively) $15/month for 2-2.5GB then 250MB.

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well......doing some reading I got this from Walmart....Not good news. Now I understand why when I switched my SIM from a USB stick device bought at Walmart to a USB stick sent by Tmobile it kept blocking me and redirecting me as with the OP.... It took multiple support calls to Tmobile tech reps...to no avail. Until the recreated my account with free data posted to it and with the regular 30 days limit. They told me I could switch back to the Walmart special at the end of the month...but never was able to get it done....I ended up selling the USB stick....so it seems there's IMEI checking on SIM activated with the 60 days specials....so this won't help on Nexus 3G

Access 4G Internet on the go with the T-Mobile $35 Prepaid Mobile Broadband Pass. It offers 3.5GB of data usage and is good for 60 days only at Walmart. Pass is only eligible on broadband devices purchased at a Walmart after 6/1/2012. The pass includes no activation fee, no annual contract, no credit check and no overages. And it works with any new T-Mobile Laptop Stick or mobile hotspot purchased at Walmart. If you regularly surf the web, check email and update your social network, this card is a good choice.


T-Mobile $35 Prepaid Mobile Broadband Pass (Email Delivery):
Provides 3.5GB of data usage
*Good for 60 days
No activation fee, annual contract, credit check or overages
Works with any T-Mobile Internet device
*60 day pass is only eligible on broadband devices purchased at Walmart after 6/1/2012

THis pretty much sums up how I feel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYwWKEc8c88

Ironically, as soon as I posted this, I got the shipping notification at 3 AM CST. But Im still sad about the tmo thing not working

I had hoped that I could use my 3g Nexus 7 on the $30 tmobile plan. I was thinking of registering on the plan when I traveled. I guess the only hope is that someone figures out a work around or tmobile offers a decent data plan. At least, I was primarily planning to use 3g overseas.

It looks like I will be teathering my N7 for for data when away from wifi. This is a pain. In addition, I could have waited and ordered my 3g N7 from B&H Photo and avoided shipping and tax.